No matter the angler, now is a great time to go fishing

WANAQUE - For many of us, fishing conjures up childhood memories of bright mornings spent with our fathers catching sunnies out of a neighborhood pond. For others, it reminds of us how our weekends have changed since we began raising families of our own. And for the uninitiated who've never felt that telltale tug on the end of a line, the very idea holds an air of intrigue.

Late summer is a great time to go fishing, whether you're an old hand at it or in search of a new outdoor hobby.

Regardless of your own past experience (or lack thereof), it's never too late to give in to the allure of freshwater fishing. Whether you're just starting out or making a return to the water, this is a great time of year to take up this age-old form of recreation and pass it on to the next generation. With the temperatures cooling down, late summer offers up a comfortable climate for the casual angler while the fish are still biting.

So how does one begin or resume this hobby? What about equipment? Maybe you already have a rod and reel in your garage, but you have no idea when it was last used. If the line is old and brittle, chances are good it will snap as soon as you get a bite.

Instead of setting yourself up to fail, seek information from local folks who fish. There's no shame in it, especially if you are new to the sport or to the area.

Timmy Peschl, head of sales at Tackle and Field in Wanaque, says that people come in to the shop all the time looking for advice.

"We ask them what kind of fish they want to catch," he said, "and whether they want to go lake or stream fishing."

Although many of the lakes in North Jersey are privately owned, Peschl said there are plenty of options for those who don't belong to a lake association.

"There are a lot of public waterways around here," he said. "Monksville Reservoir is huge. There's also Green Turtle Pond in Awosting, Shepherd's Lake in Ringwood State Park, Wawayanda Lake in Vernon and Greenwood Lake, of course."

Free, small bodies of water abound in this area, including Canty Lake in Silas Condict Park and Bogue Pond in Bloomingdale. These are perfect places to take kids for an afternoon of shoreline fishing using nightcrawlers and bobbers. Sunfish, perch, crappie and even bass can be taken in this manner, although they aren't likely to be very large.

"To get the little guys into the sport, you want to go somewhere where they'll catch a lot of fish," Peschl said. "We send people with kids to Rainbow Lake in Haskell."

When it comes to outfitting children properly, Peschl believes that all but the smallest can handle a regular rod and reel setup.

"You want to teach them with something that's going to function well," he said. "Most kids learn fast. If they can use a game controller, they can figure out a spinning reel pretty quickly."

That doesn't mean you have to spend a ton of money, however, even if you need to buy another pole for yourself, too. Rod and reel combos start at $20. Starter kits including bobbers, hooks and lures are available for those looking to set up a new tackle box.

Seasoned anglers in search of a challenge have plenty of opportunities to pursue different species nearby, Peschl said. For example, landlocked salmon have been stocked in Wawayanda Lake, and Monksville Reservoir is known to hold record-size muskellunge.

"Monksville is a little tricky," Peschl warned. "It's deep and you need a boat to get around. Succeeding there takes a different set of skills."

Although he claims to have seen muskies in abundance while fishing with a bow and lights at night on Monksville, Peschl said they are notoriously difficult to catch with rod and reel.

"Most people catch them by accident," he said, "unless they're older guys who've been fishing there for 30 years. They know exactly where to go."

Among the less travelled waters in our region are the four reservoirs in the Newark Watershed that are open to fishing by permit. Canistear, Oak Ridge, Clinton and Echo Lake all have thriving populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Muskies have also been introduced to Echo Lake. The price of the permit easily matches that of an annual state fishing license, but many people say it's worth it.

For more information about the reservoirs, stop into the Newark Watershed office on Echo Lake Road in West Milford or call 973-697-2850.

If you're interested in catching trout, you'll want to visit local streams and rivers, because those species thrive in cool, running water. Every year, the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife stocks local waterways with brook, rainbow and brown trout, although a bacterial infection at the hatchery caused this spring's stocking season to be severely limited. Peschl expects the hatchery to be prepared for fall, however. For trout, he recommends the Wanaque River off East Shore Drive in Awosting.